A World War II veteran who has worked for five years to raise money for a memorial in Sunrise, Kurland began to see the results of his labor at a Veterans Day ground-breaking ceremony last week.

Kurland had the privilege of digging the first mound of dirt on the land where a 30-foot marble wall will be built. Directly behind the spot where Kurland placed the shovel stand seven palm trees, each one symbolizing an astronaut who died in the space shuttle Challenger accident.

``I feel good because (the memorial) is near the seven astronauts,`` said Kurland`s wife, Edith.

The effort to have a memorial built began with George Kurland and his first wife, the late Frieda Kurland. The couple raised about $5,500 for the cause. Now city officials are seeking an additional $10,000 to finish the memorial.

Mayor Larry Hoffman said the city will send letters to representatives of local veterans` groups, asking them to coordinate a private fund-raising effort in the city.

Though Hoffman said the city could finance the memorial with city funds, he believes the wall should be ``a people`s monument.``

Modeled after the memorial for Vietnam veterans in Washington, D.C., the semi-circular wall will taper off from a height of 8 feet in the middle to 8 inches at each end.

A flagpole will stand at the center of the memorial, and two concrete walkways will lead to the site, sPublic Works Director Dan Moretti said.

The wall could be completed in four months, but the final date depends on the success of the fund-raising effort, Moretti said.

City Council member Bill Colon said at last week`s ceremony that he will work to raise funds for the statue of a soldier to accompany the wall.

Members of the Jewish War Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and the Broward County Veterans Council attended last week`s ceremony with Kurland, former president of the Broward Veterans Political Action Committee. City officials and council members also attended.

Kurland, a resident of Sunrise Lakes, says he will be in attendance again when the Sunrise memorial is dedicated. But his lobbying efforts for veterans will not end there.

He says he will continue to support the cause of prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action.